Monday, June 3, 2013

Randy Miller, a 48-year-old New Athens, Illinois, resident, got into an argument with his girlfriend last week -- prompting him to strike her in the leg with a crowbar, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department. He then picked up a hammer and hit her on the head, cops say.

It gets worse.

According to the sheriff's office, Miller then retrieved his gun and his dog, a rottweiler, took the animal to a nearby shed and shot him dead.

After his own dog was dead, Miller went back to his girlfriend and grabbed her chihuahua off of her lap -- holding the little dog by its neck, police say.

At this point, he took the dog to a barn and shot it dead, too.

By the time police arrived, there was little doubt about what had happened; a witness to the offense, the sheriff's office says, showed deputies a "freshly dug burial site where the two dogs were placed."

Miller, who lives on 8641 Haas Lane off of Baldwin Road, was taken into custody last Monday around 11 a.m.

Miller has since been charged with felony firearm possession, felony aggravated cruelty to animals and two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery. A St. Clair County judge set Miller's bond at $50,000 and the man is currently behind bars.

Here's the full report from the sheriff's office:

On Monday, May 27th, 2013 at 11:00 am, St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Deputy Jeffrey Hartsoe was called to the 8000 block of Haas Lane in New Athens in reference to a Domestic Battery and Criminal Damage to Property complaint. The victim reported she and her boyfriend later identified as:

Randy L. Miller
W/M (48 y/o)
8641 Haas Lane
New Athens, Illinois

got into an argument at which time Randy Miller struck her in the leg with a crowbar. Randy Miller put down the crowbar and picked up a hammer, striking her on the head. Randy Miller reportedly retrieved a gun and left the residence. He located his dog, a Rottweiler, near a shed and shot it causing the dog to die. Randy Miller walked back to the victim and took her dog, a Chiwawa, off of her lap by holding it by the neck. He took the victim's dog to a barn and shot it causing the dog to die. A witness to the offense showed Deputies a freshly dug burial site where the two dogs were placed. Randy Miller was taken into custody.

Investigator Brian Cregger was assigned the criminal investigation. After concluding the investigation, the case was submitted to State's Attorney Brendan Kelly's office.
Randy Miller was charged with POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WHILE FOID REVOKED (CLASS 3 FELONY), AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (CLASS 4 FELONY), and two counts of DOMESTIC BATTERY (CLASS A MISDEMEANOR). A St. Clair County Judge set Randy Miller's bond at $50,000.00. Randy Miller remains in custody at the St. Clair County Jail.

Sheriff Richard Watson praised Deputy Jeffrey Hartsoe and Investigator Brian Cregger for bringing justice to a victim of Domestic Violence and for being committed in enforcing animal cruelty laws. Job well done!

Required by the Illinois Supreme Court:
All suspects are considered innocent until found guilty in a court of law.